Portable multi-sensor platforms for quality assessment of plastic bales

Regulators like SEPA play an important role to safeguard the environment and to inspect regulatory compliance of the recycler. Equipping inspectors with quick, reliable and usable tools to capture credible evidence for any non-compliance would greatly enhance the regulator’s reputation and reduce violation within the sector. In order to aid in this, an integrated approach is implemented to leverage the advances in sensor (imaging and FTIR/NIR spectroscopy) technology and artificial intelligence, thus allowing for effective and efficient inspection of bales of waste plastic, on-site and kerbside.

Handheld NIR and FTIR equipment are utilised to examine surfaces of bales of recyclable materials. The aim is to create an automated system that can distinguish between various materials, thus leading to a more efficient recycling process.